Tripadvisor just named San Diego’s La Jolla Cove as the best beach in the country and one of the best in the entire world.
The small sandy beach is protected by rugged sandstone cliffs and outcroppings, which make for calm waters with great visibility for snorkeling and diving.
Tripadvisor‘s Travelers’ Choice Awards ranks the most popular attractions in the world based on those receiving a high volume of positive reviews. The latest rendition of the Best of the Best beaches ranked La Jolla Cove at #1 in the United States and #7 in the world, with similar scores to pristine coastal stretches in Greece, Mexico, Thailand, and Australia.
A few other California beaches made the list, including Santa Monica State Beach at #9 and Venice Beach at #13 in the country.
Things to do at La Jolla Cove
While La Jolla Cove’s beach itself is quite small, its popularity comes from the cove’s clear waters with great opportunities for scuba diving and snorkeling. The sandy area itself can become fully submerged at high tide and overrun by crowds during peak seasons.
The beach is part of the San Diego-La Jolla Underwater Park Ecological Reserve, which protects marine species including bright orange Garibaldi fish, rays, and leopard sharks. It’s also famous for having abundant tide pools and large colonies of sea lions and harbor seals who often sunbathe on the rocks.
Conservation efforts have helped to preserve the area’s thriving marine ecosystem, making snorkeling conditions especially favorable during late summer and early fall. The area has also added enhanced signage and educational displays to help visitors understand the importance of environmental protection here.
Keep in mind that it is illegal to touch or disturb sea lions on the beach and in the water, as they are protected by the Marine Mammal Protection Act. The Sierra Club Seal Society recommends keeping a distance of 3 car lengths when viewing sea lions.
A trip to La Jolla Cove would be incomplete without an excursion to the Sunny Jim Cave, which is accessible through The Cave Store gift shop via a hidden 145-step staircase.
While you’re at it, explore the town of La Jolla with some shopping and dining on Prospect Street or Girard Avenue, a picnic on the grass in Ellen Browning Scripps Park, or a walk along the Coast Walk Trail.
Visiting La Jolla Cove
Remember, La Jolla Cove is a protected area, so it has a few additional rules that you may not be used to at other California beaches. There is no surfing, boogie boarding, or fishing allowed, and you cannot collect shells from the beach. Dogs are only allowed before 9am and after 6pm (or after 4pm in the winter).
It’s worth showing up early to find street parking, especially during peak times of year.
📍 Location: La Jolla Cove is located at 1160 Coast Blvd, La Jolla, CA 92037